Object loading apparatus having pressing cam for controlling inclination of object loading plate and image processing apparatus having the object loading apparatus implemented therein

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides an object loading apparatus, including: an elastic component positioned at a bottom plate of an object feeding device; a first pivot positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate rotatably coupled to the first pivot for loading objects, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plane; a second pivot positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; a pressing cam rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and a guiding module coupled to the pressing cam for rotating the pressing cam to make an inclination of the object loading plate of the object feeding device when the object feeding device is at an object feeding position smaller than an inclination of the object loading plate when the object feeding plate is at an object loading position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an object loading apparatus, and more particularly to an object loading apparatus having a pressing cam for controlling the inclination of an object loading plate in order to automatically recover the object loading apparatus.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Normally, a paper feeder in a printer utilizes a paper drawing roller for rotating and feeding the paper into the printer. However, this method requires a force between the paper drawing roller and the paper in order to generate a frictional force upon the paper. In the prior art, the object utilized to load the papers is called a paper lifter, where a spring module is installed below the paper lifter to provide the frictional force between the paper drawing roller and the papers. Therefore, in a normal operation, the paper feeder has to be pulled out from the printer when the user needs to change or load papers into the printer. However, the force generated by the spring module upon the paper lifter will push up the paper lifter, making it inconvenient for the user to load the papers.

Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a partial diagram illustrating a prior art paper feeder 10 of a printer. In FIG. 1, when the paper feeder 10 is pushed into the printer a grip 11 will also be pushed by the paper feeder 10. The moving of the grip 11 will drive a spring 12 to pull up a supporting object 13. Accordingly, the supporting object 13 can push up a paper lifter (not shown) and provide the required force upon the papers. However, this prior art printer is expensive and the configuration is very complicated. Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another prior art paper feeder 20 of a printer, described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,103. According to the corresponding disclosure, the paper feeder 20 comprises a motorized media pick mechanism 21, and a media support plate 22 that supports a media 23 to contact with the motorized media pick mechanism 21. However, the paper feeder shown in FIG. 2 has the same problem as that shown in FIG. 1, i.e. high cost and complicated configuration. Therefore, a simpler and cheaper paper feeder needs to be developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an embodiment of an object loading apparatus. The object loading apparatus comprises an elastic component, a first pivot, an object loading plate, a second pivot, a pressing cam, and a guiding module. The elastic component is positioned at a bottom plate of an object feeding device; the first pivot is positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; the object loading plate is rotatably coupled to the first pivot for loading objects, and further contacts with the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plate around the first pivot. The second pivot is positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; the pressing cam is rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and the guiding module is coupled to the pressing cam for rotating the pressing cam to make the inclination of the object loading plate of the object feeding device when the object feeding device is at an object feeding position smaller than the inclination of the object loading plate when the object feeding device is at an object loading position.

These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial diagram illustrating a prior art paper feeder of a printer.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating another prior art paper feeder of a printer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an object loading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object feeding device of FIG. 3 when it moves from an object feeding position to an object loading position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pressing cam of Fig.3 when the object feeding device of the object loading apparatus is located at the object loading position.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object feeding device of FIG. 3 when it moves from the object loading position to the object feeding position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an object loading apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, the object loading apparatus 100 is described as being applied in a printer, however the object loading apparatus 100 of the present invention is not limited to be applied in a printer, and can also be applied in a Photostat or a multi-function printer. The object loading apparatus 100 comprises an elastic component 101, a first pivot 102, an object loading plate 103, a second pivot 104, a pressing cam 105, and a guiding module 106. The elastic component 101 is positioned at a bottom plate 107 a of an object feeding device 107 (i.e. the paper feeder of the printer) of the printer; the first pivot 102 is positioned at a side plate 107 b of the object feeding device 107; and the object loading plate 103 is rotatably coupled to the first pivot 102 for loading objects 103 a (e.g. papers). Furthermore, the object loading plate 103 further contacts with the elastic component 101, wherein the elastic component 101 provides an elastic force F₁ to the object loading plate 103 for rotating the object loading plate 103 around the first pivot 102. The second pivot 104 is positioned at a side plate 107 c of the object feeding device 107. Please note that, in this embodiment, the side plate 107 b and the side plate 107 c are at the same side of the object feeding device 107. In other words, the first pivot 102 and the second pivot 104 are positioned at the same side of the object feeding device 107, but this is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention; for example, in other embodiments of the present invention, the first pivot 102 and the second pivot 104 being positioned at both sides of the object feeding device 107 respectively also falls within the scope of the present invention. The pressing cam 105 is rotatably coupled to the second pivot 104. The guiding module 106 is coupled to the pressing cam 105 for rotating the pressing cam 105 to make the inclination of the object loading plate 103 of the object feeding device 107 when the object feeding device 107 is at an object feeding position X₁ smaller than the inclination of the object loading plate 103 when the object feeding device 107 is at an object loading position X₂. When the object feeding device 107 is positioned at the object feeding position X₁ this means that the user has pushed the object feeding device 107 into a middle position of the printer in order to make the paper drawer (e.g. paper drawing roller) draw the loading objects 103 a (i.e. papers) of the object feeding device 107; when the object feeding device 107 is positioned at the object loading position X₂ this means that the user has pulled the object feeding device 107 out from the middle position of the printer in order to allow the user to load the loading objects 103 a (i.e. papers) of the object feeding device 107. In the embodiment, the guiding module 106 is a guiding fillister, which is positioned on an apparatus side plate 106 c of the object processing apparatus 107 (i.e. paper drawer). A sliding terminal 105 a of the pressing cam 105 is movably coupled to the guiding fillister in order to rotate the pressing cam 105 around the second pivot 104 when the object feeding device 107 is moving.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object feeding device 107 of FIG. 3 when it moves from the object feeding position X₁ to the object loading position X₂. When the object feeding device 107 is moved toward a direction D₁, the sliding terminal 105 a of the pressing cam 105 moves from the first predetermined position 106 a to the second predetermined position 106 b along the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106; then the pressing cam 105 is forced to rotate along a clockwise direction R1 of the second pivot 104. Therefore, the first predetermined position 106 a is higher than the second predetermined 106 b as shown in FIG. 4. Please note that the first predetermined position 106 a of the present invention is not limited to be higher than the second predetermined position 106 b, and, after reading the above mentioned disclosure, a person skilled in the art can readily modify the embodiment so the first predetermined position 106 a is lower than the second position 106 b. Therefore, any situations where the horizontal level of the first predetermined position 106 a and the second predetermined position 106 b are different from those mentioned above also lies within the scope of the present invention. In this embodiment, the press cam 105 appears as an “L” shape, and has another pressing terminal 105 b. The pressing terminal 105 b adaptively produces a force F₂ upon the object loading plate 103 when rotating in a clockwise direction R₁, where the force F₂ is larger than the force F₁ generated by the elastic component 101. Accordingly, the object loading plate 103 can be pressed to a lower position when the first pivot 102 is rotated. Then, when the object feeding device 107 is moved along the direction D₁ and stops at the object loading position X₂, the pressing cam 105 of the embodiment rotates to beyond the symmetrical center of the pressing cam 105. Meanwhile, the pressing terminal 105 b at the left side of the pressing cam 105 sustains the force F1 generated by the elastic component 101 to make the pressing cam 105 continue to rotate in the clockwise direction. Furthermore, the sliding terminal 105 a is fixed at the second predetermined position 106 b of the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106 to fix the pressing cam 105; so the object loading plate 103 can substantially remain in a horizontal state and will not be lifted up. Accordingly, the user can easily load the object 103 a on to the object loading plate 103 as shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the pressing cam 105 when the object feeding device 107 of the object loading apparatus 100 is located at the object loading position X₂.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating the position of the object feeding device 107 of FIG. 3 when it moves from the object loading position X₂ to the object feeding position X₁. As mentioned above, when the object feeding device 107 is positioned at the object loading position X₂, the user loads the objects 103 a onto the object loading plate 103; then the object feeding device 107 is moved toward a direction D₂, which is the opposite direction to the direction D₁. Because the sliding terminal 105 a of the pressing cam 105 moves from the second predetermined position 106 b to the first predetermined position 106 a along the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106, the pressing cam 105 is forced to rotate in an anti-clockwise direction R₂ around the second pivot 104. Furthermore, because the first predetermined position 106 a is higher than the second predetermined 106 b, the pressing terminal 105 b of the pressing cam 105 is gradually raised by rotating in an anti-clockwise direction R₂ when moving toward the direction D₂. Meanwhile, the force F₁ provided by the elastic component 101 forces the object loading plate 103 to rotate around the first pivot 102 (i.e. in a clockwise direction). Then, when the sliding terminal 105 a is moved toward the direction D₂ and stopped at the object feeding position X₁, the pressing terminal 105 b of the pressing cam 105 of this embodiment is raised to a predetermined location, and the sliding terminal 105 a is stopped at the first predetermined position 106 a of the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106. The predetermined location is designed to make the sliding terminal 105 a unable to contact with the objects 103 a in order to enable the pickup roller 108 of the printer work normally, as shown in FIG. 3.

Please note that the guiding module 106 of the present invention is not limited to utilizing the guiding fillister to guide the pressing cam 105, and any other method that can move the pressing cam 105 also belongs to the scope of the present invention. For example, in another embodiment of the present embodiment where the guiding fillister of the guiding module 106 is not utilized, the embodiment detects the moving position of the object feeding device 107 and generates a control signal to rotate a motor for moving the pressing cam 105.

After reading above disclosure, a person skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the disclosed object loading apparatus can be applied to an image processing apparatus. For example, in an exemplary design, the image processing apparatus has an object feeding device and a housing. The object feeding device is configured to include an elastic component, positioned at a bottom plate of the object feeding device; a first pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate, rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for loading at least one sheet of medium, the object loading plate further contacting with the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; and a pressing cam, rotatably coupled to the second pivot. The housing of the exemplary image processing apparatus is configured to have a cavity for accommodating the object feeding device, and a guiding module, coupled to the pressing cam for rotating the object loading plate while the object feeding device is moved between an object feeding position and an object loading position. In other words, the object feeding device can be loaded into or removed from the cavity inside the housing under the control of users. Additionally, the image processing apparatus further has a pickup roller disposed above the object loading plate, and the object loading plate is rotated toward the pickup roller while the object feeding device is moved from the object loading position to the object feeding position. In the end, the loaded medium adjoins the pickup roller when the object feeding device has moved to the object feeding position. Please note that above example is for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to be taken as limitations of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims. 

1. An object loading apparatus, comprising: an elastic component, positioned at a bottom plate of an object feeding device; a first pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate, rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for loading objects, the object loading plate further contacting with the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; a pressing cam, rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and a guiding module, coupled to the pressing cam, for rotating the pressing cam to make an inclination of the object loading plate of the object feeding device when the object feeding device is at an object feeding position smaller than an inclination of the object loading plate when the object feeding device is at an object loading position.
 2. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the object feeding device is positioned at the object feeding position, the guiding module guides the pressing cam to rotate to a first position in order to allow the elastic component to rotate the object loading plate for making the object loading plate inclined accordingly; and when the object feeding device is positioned at the object loading position, the guiding module guides the pressing cam to rotate to a second position in order to stop the elastic component from rotating the object loading plate so the object loading plate is in a horizontal position.
 3. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, being applied in an object processing apparatus, wherein the guiding module is a guiding fillister positioned on an apparatus side plate of the object processing apparatus; and a sliding terminal of the pressing cam is movably coupled to the guiding fillister in order to rotate the pressing cam around the second pivot when the object feeding device is moving.
 4. The object loading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the object processing apparatus is a printer, a Photostat, or a multi-function printer.
 5. The object loading apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elastic component is coupled to the bottom plate of the object loading plate; a first predetermined position of the guiding fillister is not a same height as a second predetermined position of the guiding fillister; when the object feeding device is positioned at the object feeding position, the sliding terminal of the pressing cam is moved to the first predetermined position; and when the object feeding device is positioned at the object loading position, the sliding terminal of the pressing cam is moved to the second predetermined position.
 6. The object loading apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object feeding device is a paper feeder.
 7. An image processing apparatus comprising: an object feeding device, comprising: an elastic component, positioned at a bottom plate of the object feeding device; a first pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; an object loading plate, rotatably coupled to the first pivot, for loading at least one sheet of medium, the object loading plate further contacting with the elastic component, wherein the elastic component provides an elastic force to the object loading plate to rotate the object loading plate around the first pivot; a second pivot, positioned at a side plate of the object feeding device; and a pressing cam, rotatably coupled to the second pivot; and a housing having a cavity for accommodating the object feeding device, and a guiding module, coupled to the pressing cam, for rotating the object loading plate while the object feeding device is moved between an object feeding position and an object loading position.
 8. The image processing apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a pickup roller disposed above the object loading plate.
 9. The image processing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the object loading plate is rotated toward the pickup roller while the object feeding device is moved from the object loading position to the object feeding position.
 10. The image processing apparatus of claim 9 wherein the loaded medium adjoins the pickup roller while the object feeding device is moved to the object feeding position. 